Education Minister Aseri Radrodro has emphasized the importance of promoting technical vocational education training within the ministry. Addressing concerns over the $5 million budgetary allocation to Pacific Polytech, Radrodro explained that the ministry aims to encourage universities to actively promote technical institutions to address the current labor market shortage in Fiji.
“We are encouraging universities, especially Fiji National University, to actively participate in the promotion of technical vocational colleges as well,” said Radrodro. “At the same time, we are also encouraging other institutions to actively participate.”
He further noted that while institutions had higher budget requests, the allocations went through the Higher Education Commission.
Finance Minister Biman Prasad highlighted the role of Pacific Polytech in supporting younger generations who struggle to complete education or qualify in a trade. He pointed out that many students at Pacific Polytech are iTaukei, emphasizing the need for the Government to provide them with a second chance for a meaningful future.
“More than 1100 students have completed various national qualifications under the Fiji National Qualification Framework since the university’s inception in August 2023,” said Prasad. “To support this further given the exodus of many of our workers, the Government is providing an increased grant of $5 million to Pacific Polytech.”